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snurri ([personal profile] snurri) wrote2008-03-12 10:03 am
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I'm Just Sitting On the Shelf

Did any of y'all see the movie Elf? Even if you don't like Will Ferrell (and I do, at least sometimes), Zooey Deschanel did a smoky rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (while in the shower, no less) that blew me away. Now she's got an album coming out from Merge Records, made with M. Ward, and it's streaming over at the Merge Records site. I nearly quit listening during the first track, but the second ("Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?", which I know I've heard somewhere--I'm thinking it was a soundtrack, since I never listen to the radio) is wonderful, and the rest is likable if a bit uneven. (This link especially for [livejournal.com profile] mrdankelly.)

Am so far spending my vacation struggling with a story that I started back in January. It's at 8700 words and I can't see the end yet. AGH. Despite my frustration at the slooow progress, I'm liking where it's going. Recently my short stories have mostly been very contained, almost entirely thought out beforehand. It's like I've known the dimensions of the story-box even if I wasn't certain of the contents--I think they're good stories, but they're also complete thoughts, or nearly so. This story has tentacles, and it keeps on moving between states, so there's really no point in trying to assemble the box. Every time I think I know what it's about, it changes. And I'm thinking that maybe that's what I need right now, because I've been feeling a little constricted by outlines and word counts and marketability and those sorts of things that I have never been very comfortable with. I'm going to try not to worry about where the hell I'm going to sell something like this once it's finished.

In other news, I can't stand the news anymore. Whether it's random talking heads informing me that prostitution is a victimless crime or once-sensible people claiming that people who think they are racist are SEKRITLY racists themselves, I am officially tired of everyone. Shut up shut up shut up.

[identity profile] justinhowe.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)
It makes me happy to read that your story has developed tentacles.

[identity profile] snurri.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 03:42 pm (UTC)(link)
It also has an unsightly rash.

[identity profile] justinhowe.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 03:47 pm (UTC)(link)
That should clear up in the editing process. Or become leprosy.

[identity profile] sarah-prineas.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 03:33 pm (UTC)(link)
It's at 8700 words and I can't see the end yet. AGH.

Hey, maybe it's a novel!

[identity profile] snurri.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 03:43 pm (UTC)(link)
The thought crossed my mind. That seems unlikely, though. Stealth!Novel seems like a difficult trick to pull off.

[identity profile] haddayr.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 04:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes! Her singing was a delightful surprise in that movie.

I also loved her "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

[identity profile] snurri.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I'd forgotten about that! I think because I get embarrassed during that scene, at least at the beginning.

[identity profile] czakbar.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Welcome to the shut up club. I can't watch or read the news anymore either.

[identity profile] snurri.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I was pretty much obsessive about it until recently. But the election stuff just seems like it's never going to end, and that makes me cranky.

[identity profile] czakbar.livejournal.com 2008-03-13 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
Same here. Got obsessed until I burned out a couple of weeks ago. Still checking in every now and then, but trying to laugh even though a lot of it makes me want to cry or shout.

[identity profile] ilovehpl.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 10:43 pm (UTC)(link)
In other news, I can't stand the news anymore.

Oh Jesus Christ on a popsicle stick do I ever know how this feels. I want to be in the Shut Up club.

[identity profile] snurri.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Free ball gags with membership fee!!

[identity profile] ilovehpl.livejournal.com 2008-03-13 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
SWEET!

[identity profile] terpsichord.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 10:43 pm (UTC)(link)
I missed her in the movie you speak of...I was surprised she was a singer when I heard the "South by Southwest" preview on All Songs Considered, and they mentioned "She and Him".

[identity profile] snurri.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Elf is pretty good if you're in a silly/sappy mood. But really, it's about 80% Will Ferrell and about 10% James Caan with Zooey somewhere in the rest, so not much use watching it just for her.

[identity profile] jennreese.livejournal.com 2008-03-13 04:30 am (UTC)(link)
I freakin' LOVED her version of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" from that movie! It absolutely transfixes me. Thank you so much for the heads up about her album!!!

[identity profile] snurri.livejournal.com 2008-03-13 02:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay! Hope you like the album stuff just as much.

[identity profile] supersleuth28.livejournal.com 2008-04-16 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
The Go-Getter is finally coming out in select cities on June 6.
Details here (http://theplaylist.blogspot.com/2008/03/exclusive-go-getter-film-getting-june-6.html)
http://theplaylist.blogspot.com/2008/03/exclusive-go-getter-film-getting-june-6.html

Prostitution

(Anonymous) 2008-04-29 06:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Regarding your NYT opinion post. Prostitution is very much a victimless crime. SLAVERY, on the other hand, is not.